Automatic weft-replenishing mechanism for looms.



M. L, STONE. AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LODMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1905.

Batented D 0. 1, 1908.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. M. L. STONE. AUTOMATIC WE]? T v.REILEWISHING MECHANISM PGR LOOMS. 'APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2 8, 1905.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908 3 SHEETS-$HEET 2 M. L. STONE. AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISEING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS. APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 28, 1905.

65,2 15. 1 Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

3 SHEETS-45111131 34 FIG. 1; 2 5

witnesses: K Q %i/@ one MELVIN L. STONE, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMATIC WEFT-REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed November 28, 1905. Serial No. 289,437.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN L. STONE, of Lowell, li liddlesex county, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Innprovemcnts in Automatic Weft-Replenishing Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is. a specification.

The present improvements relate to the construction of the, hopper or ma azine whiclrcontains a supply of spare we t-car' riers to be fed automatically one by one into weaving position in the loom, as the-condition of the working weft requires, and to the means for-taking care of the loose threads during the occupancy of the magazine by the weft-carriers, and as each weft-carrier is transferred into weavin position; and one embodiment thereof is companying drawings, wherein 2- Figure 1, is a plan view of tlsle'wett-replenishing mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side view of the mechanism. Fig. 3 ma cross-section of the magazine in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fi 4, is a longitudinal section in the plane indicated by the line 4t4, in Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is a detail sec tion of the traveling thread-holder.

The present improvements may be incor porated in any loom having transferring mechanism capable of automatically transferring a spare weft-carrier into weaving position in the loom whenever the condition of the working weft so demands.- There is shown in the drawings a pivoted transferrer A, well-known for this-purpose and for cooperation with weft-carriers, such as the illustrated bobbins B, B, which are capacitated to be automatically inserted into the shuttle on the lay when the running :weft

breaks, runs out, approaches exhaustion, or otherwise requires replenishing. The weftrarriers are, in accordance with the present imcntion, supported by astationa ry magazine C, fixed to a bracket D, which is-carried by any stationary part of the loom, such as one end of the breast-beam.

(loiiperating with the transferrer and the magazine are a usual fixed stop E, and spring upheld finger F, which support in correct position the butt of the weft-carrier which is next to be transferred into weavin position. The yielding fin er F, is pivote at a, on fixed stud carried y the magazine, and it is normally upheld by a spring c, en

ustrate'd in the ac circling a pin 03, fixed on an arm 6, fast with the finger F, said spring bearing against a stationary lug f, fixed to the magazine. When the transferrer A, descends to transfer the lowest weftcarrier B, into weaving position, the finger F, yields to allow the descent of the su ported weftcarrier and then immediately ascends in time to support the nextsucceeding spare weft-carrier.

The magazine is of a length to hold any desired number of weft-carriers, and is of the type wherein the weft-carriers feed by gravity. As shown, the magazine is inclined, and is broken away at the middle to indicatei-ts permissible variable length. The inclination of the magazine permits the Weftcarriers to. descendby gravity, and within a given reachable height affords a maximum weft-carrier holding ca acity. The bottom G, of the magazine pre 'erably supports the wett-carriers throughout their length. Near its lower end the magazine has a fixed top hood H, covering the length of the weft carriers but separated at its outer end tromthe bottom to provide a free pas stage 9', for the threads. Above the hood is a swinging cover I, which incloses the butts of the remainder of the stack of spare weitcarriers. The bottom, hood and cover are furnished with longitudinal ribs 1), b, to supply a retaining guide channel for the butts of the weft-carriers. The magazine, thus constituted, is open at the lower end to per mit the successive discharge of the weftcarriers as the trans-terror acts; the stack of weft-carriers being normally supported by the stop E, yielding finger F, and by the usual yielding tip-supporting finger, J. The magazine is'also open at the top to admit insertion of'spare Weft-carriers. 'By swinging upthe cover I, however, the magazine may be quickly filled when empty.

The loose weft-ends or threads of the several weft-carriers are all attached to an endless flexible traveling thread holder.

The holder, as shown, is an endless flexible band -K, Sconveniently of thin sheet metal) having ho es re-inforced by eyelets 2', i, which coperate with the teeth' of a driving sprocket wheel L. This endless holder is from the magazine. The holder has riveted .shaft has at its inner end a ratchet wheel 0,

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weaving position the in register with its weft-carrier whcn the thread-holder is upwardly from the breast'heam and towards advantage ot' this is that the magazine can to it, throughout its length, equally spaced thread studs 0, one of which is in register with each of the weft-carriers in the magazine. When the weft-carriers are placed in the magazine the loose thread of each is secured to the corresponding registering stud O.

As each weft-carrier is transferred into traveling threadholder K is automatically advanced one step so that the studs 0, keep pace with their Weft-carriers, and, hence, each stud is always transfer takes place. To this end, the sprocket'wheel L, is carried by a shaft P, ournaled beneath the magazine, and said and a star wheel R. A pawl S, pivoted at m, to the arm 6, of finger F, engages the ratchet wheel B, so that as said finger is swung at each tansler the ratchet Q is turned one step, and the flexible traveling advanced the proper distance.

A detent roll T, (carried by lever U. pivoted at t, to the magazine and pulled upon by spring V,) engages the star wheel R, and insures the exact advance of the thread-holder and the ma ntenance of its position between successive advances.

Owing to this organization, the Weft-can r-iers are led by gravity, and tl'ierecan he no unwinding or entai'iglen'ient of the threads because their holder is automatipally advanced as the weft-carriers drop.

The magazine extends rearwardly and the back of the loom. its open mouth is near the back of the m and still low enough to be readily reached by an attend ant from behind the loom. An important be filled by a helper passing along the usual aisle between the backs of adjacent rows'ot looms where he is wholly out of the way 01. the weaver.

due back of the la and extending.

eoaees I claim as my invention 1. An automatic wel't-replenishing loom, having, in combination, a magazine in which the weft-carriers .t'eed by gravity, a transferrer for feeding the welt-carriers one by one into weaving position in the loom, an endless traveling flexible tlu'ead-holder having a plurality 0t devices for sepaately holding the threads of all the weft-carriers in the magazine and automatic actuating; instrumentalities for moving said holder one step whenever the trans-terror acts.

2. An automatic netta'cplciiishing; loom having, in combination, a magazine for wellcarriers, a traveling thread-holder inorablc indel'iendently of said liitltfttlill. and actuating instrumentalitics for moving said threadliolder automatically as the wel't-(airricrs advance.

' 3. An automatic wet't-replcnishing loom, having. in combination, a magazine 'l'or will carriers, and a traveling thread-lualder movable iiulepcndently ol the magazine and hav ing a plurality of devices l'or separately holding the threads of the several welt-carriers in the magazine.

l. An automatic"wcl'taeplcnishing loom having a magazine with a bottom support for wcthcarriers and a swinging cover ex tending over the butts of the supported \vclt carriers and cooperating with said bottom to supply a gnidcwvay tor said carriers.

An automatic \vet't--replcnishiiu loom having a stationary magazint mount d on support in front of the lay and extending; upwardly and rcarwardly trom bottom to top, the upper rear end of the magazine be llii-iently to the rear to enable a cess thereto for retilling-by a person staii'ding'bacl; of tho loom. in testimony whereof l allix my signature in presence of two \\'illlt st.s.

w MELVIN l'i. ("lltlNlC. lVitnesses: I

lViLmAtu ll. lVnsoN', lVir. C. DlLLlNGIlAM'. 

